The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1887-06-30
The gN5erala md 0eu5*
PUBLISHED
EVERY THURSDAY AT
NEWBERRT, S. c.
KILLING An ELEPHANT.
He Had Lived Probably 100 Years and was the
Greatest Trick Elephant II the World.

He Had Lived Probably 100 Years and was the
Greatest Trick Elephant II the World.
BosToN, June I9.-Bijou, the great
pet elephant who had for two years
been or exhibition in the Worlds
museum on Washington street, and
previously was resident of the Cen
trail Park menagerie in New York,
was given poison last night. This
animal is the oldest and had been in
captivity longer than any elephant
ever on exhibition. BUou has been
in this country for sixty years, and
while he is known to be seventy five
years old, the probabilities are that
he was born nearly hundred years
ago. Recently he has suffered great
II from old age, and his efforts to
stand up and receive cakes and can
dies from visitors at the museum as
he used to were painful in the ex-
treme. In the last two weeks his
massive legs refused to support the
weight of his huge body, and his at
tempts to respond to the calls Of his
old trainer were very affecting. lie
would try to raise himself on his
knees, and then, reaching his trunk
towards bis keeper, the huge beast
would settle back and moan.
The old elephant had also lost his
appetite and was growing thin. He
found it hard to sleep, and lay awake
nights and groaning and in such
evident pain that it was decided to
kill him. A box of chocolate drops
saturated with a powerful poison was
given Bijou after the museum closed
last night, and in torty-fve minutes
the beast twined his trunk affection
ately around his keeper and died.
Bijou's body will be buried in an
underground vat until decomposition
is complete. This will require some
some nine months. after which the
bones will be separated, bleached
and then prepared, and in another
month the skeleton will be placed on
exhibition at the Worlds museum.
Biiou was an African elephant.
Sixty years ago he came to this
Country, since which time he had
travelled with nearly every circus on
on the road. Twenty times, it is said,
his ownership changed hands, and
with each stranded show poor Bijou
would get a new master. When a
youngster he was owned by London
tavern-keeper who exhibited him with
a pair Of immense gorillas in his
tsvern, and from there lie drifted
across the continent. When but an
infant Prince Albert of England rode
him and made him a pet, but bis
after life was not so pleasant.
In 1910 he visited Germany with
prominent Snowman, and tramped
back and forth throughout the world
until 1878 and 1874, when he was an
attraction of the Great Eastern cir.
Gus. Then O. P. Older, the we'll
known circus man, purchased him,
and later Bob Frier, an equestrian
with Barnum's circus, broke him to
tricks.
<Biiou then went to California, and
at last drifted back to New York.
On the way home in crossing bridge,
Bijou refused, after trying the plank
ing, to make the passage. His keep
ers, it is claimed, goaded him on, he
took a few more steps and plunged
through the rotten boards, spraining
his ankle, and since then he has
never been himself.
While in the Central Park menage'
RE, in New York, the agent of the
Worlds museum bought him. That
was two years ago, and until within
three weeks Bijou was never off his
feet, even to lie down. He was con-
sideIe3 one of the best trick elephants
ia the country. He played FIVE tunes
on the harp, played the harmonica,
stood on his head and did the house.
keeping business for the circus with
all the intelligence Of his nature
During his sickness he had been fed
largely on fruit, and q days allow
ance included two dozen oranges
twelve loaves Of bread, one hundred
and fifty pounds OF hay, halfa bushe
of grain and a basket Of shorts.
Bijou was valued at $4,000, anc
was probably better known through
out this country than any elephant
lever on exhibition.
.
Arn,s for the Sandwich Islands.
san Francisco, June 22-Indica